All those Michelle Wie fans who think she’s above TravelGolf.com are in for a rude awakening when the new issue of Time magazine hits newstands Monday. For Time uses our Rush Limbaugh interview to ask Wie a question in their Q&A.

While Time doesn’t actually credit TravelGolf.com - we forgive them this time - it’s apparent where this question comes from: Rush Limbaugh reportedly said something about you recently [calling her a “triumph of marketing"] A simple internet search will show you the only place where Limbaugh called Wie “a triumph of marketing.”

Michelle Wie may not have sat down with TravelGolf.com yet. But she’s already responding to our articles, answering our questions. In Time.

Answering them badly, it should be added.

For this is what Wie said to the Limbaugh “triumph of marketing” question:

Wie: “Huh? Who’s that?”

Time: You don’t know who Rush Limbaugh is?

Wie: Uh oh. He’s on the radio. I don’t listen to the radio much.

Yes, Michelle Wie is a high school junior who doesn’t know who arguably the most influential radio show host in history is, a man who’s affected presidential elections. As I’ve said before, you don’t have to agree with Rush Limbaugh. You can say he’s an idiot if you can find some facts to back that up with. But at least show some basic knowledge of the world.

Any high school junior should know who Rush Limbaugh is. This is basic stuff. Otherwise called having a clue.

You can bet Michelle Wie would know who Rush Limbaugh is if he was a “sparkly” thing she was paid big money to pimp though.

Good thing Michelle Wie’s getting that great education, huh? Jeff Spicoli just called Michelle Wie his kind of student.

41 comments

There you go again. So what if Michelle Wie doesn't know who Rush Limbaugh is. There are many people out there who will not admit to knowing who old Rush is.

You haven't been around teenagers much have you? Do you honestly think that they eagerly tune into Rush Limbaugh while they abandon their rock or rap music or ipods? Pulleeez!

My, my. What is it about Michelle that makes you so angry? that makes you sound like chalk scaping on black board. It's absolutely pathetic and downright screechy. Raise your tone higher Baldwin, and let's see how much more screechy you can sound.

A grown man bashing a teen ager, honestly, there must be some "law" against that. But, then, you are the one who's writing in a public forum and sounding less than dignified, and every time it sounds worse than the last time.

Stop and consider this particular update for a moment, then ask yourself just what exactly you're trying to accomplish with it.

She's 16 years old, for God's sake, and by all accounts a bright, well-adjusted, affable kid (not to mention an impressive and continually evolving talent). What, pray tell, is the point in attacking her? Better yet, what's the justification?

Beyond trying to validate your sense of worth by informing us that Time Magazine indirectly referenced your interview with Mr. Limbaugh (phew! big news! stop the presses!), I can't for the life of me imagine what purpose this all serves.

Evidently you're under the mistaken impression that something you've written amounts to incisive and/or insightful commentary.

I used to teach high school. I would have LOVED it if all of my juniors would have known the names Thomas Jefferson, Ernest Hemingway, Frederick Douglass, Langston Hughes, or Harriet Beecher Stowe. Many of them were so stoned they didn't know their own name half the time. I'll let Michelle slide on Limbaugh, at least until she's 16 and a half.

Chris Baldwin, I don't know in what world your comments would be appropriate in, but you are way out of line. I encourage anyone who reads this post to unsubscibe to this site. It's a little bit surprising that your editors let this through, but if this is any indication of their sensibilities, then clearly there is a deficiency in class @ travelgolf.com. Wie is a teenager, and deserves our mentorship and support rather than this bitter, ignorant and pathetic rant.

Comment from: Josh [Visitor] · http://www.louisvillegolf.com
" Wie is a teenager, and deserves our mentorship and support rather than this bitter, ignorant and pathetic rant. "

That comes form one of your peers, Chris. Actually, I think this gentleman is so far above you that you can never reach those heights.

It really is time for you to drop this whole subject of your bitterness toward Michelle Wie. It serves no purpose except to chum for hits to your rants. I expect to hear you will be on Limbaughs show soon. You are well suited to his type of stupidity. You are a most pathetic individual.

As I've said before, you don't have to agree with Rush Limbaugh. You can say he's an idiot if you can find some facts to back that up with.
________________

Has Rush changed his radio format and now deaing with actual facts instead of rumors and innuendos, Rush is the perfect example of never letting facts get in the way of opinions, but of course some of that could be the major of effects of oxycoten addiction...lol !

Pretty refreshing another non ditto head doesn't know about or listen to the ramblings of this neocon supporter...lol !

Y'know, I've agreed with Baldwin when he opined that Michelle Wie was overhyped and underaccomplished. I've agreed with Rush Limbaugh when he opined that Michelle Wie was a "triumph of marketing".

But, dude, cracking on Wie for being basically a teenager is way out of line. It's just as likely that she knows about Limbaugh but was feigning ignorance for rhetorical impact. The vast majority of teenagers these days don't know Rush Limbaugh, just as they don't know Walter Cronkite or Walter Winchell or Edward R. Murrow. It's not a sign of anything except the current culture of teenagers. This column has now gotten out of the realm of golf commentary and gotten into the realm of pathological hatred.

I first read your dribble thinking it was something of jab at Miss Wie. Then, when I read it the second time I reliased it was the work of the "green eyed monster". Rush Limp wrist...the drug addict! the failed racist TV sports amusment factor, you can't be serious?
Thank you for the best giggle in weeks, have you considered comedy?

Chris, The flaming liberals seem to be ganging up on you, so you may be happy to know that I'm on your side. Michelle Wie is being hyped as no other teenage female golfer ever has been. She will most likely never reach the heights that her fans would like her to reach, i.e., winning several LPGA majors and winning on the PGA tour. Rush Limbaugh, on the other hand, has reached the absolute pinnacle of broadcasting success. He didn't get there with hype and undeserved endorsements, either. As for his admitted addiction to oxycontin, he faced up to it, went into rehab, and is beating it. Many of the liberal, Hollywood left have had addictions similar or worse and they receive passes and sympathy from their fans and the left-leaning media.

Alex, while most of your comment is probably true that in no way excuses Chris's attack on Michelle Wie over not knowing the "importance" of Rush Limbaugh. As many others have already pointed out, she's a 16 year-old girl! What little life she has left after the many hours per week on the golf course and in the classroom is hardly going to be taken up by listening to the likes of Limbaugh, is it? Limbaugh may be one of the most important radio personalities in the past 10 years in the US, but he is an acquired taste. Conservatives idolize him, liberals hate him, the rest...? Well, the rest of the country frankly doesn't care.

I'm not a Wie Warrior, but even I can see that Chris's attack is simply idiotic and small minded. I would be willing to bet that no more than 10% of all 16-year-old girls know and/or care who Rush Limbaugh is. Why should Wie be any different?

Mike, why is it that liberals always resort to the pejorative phrase such as "listening to THE LIKES of Limbaugh" rather than the simpler "listening to Limbaugh?" You give your prejudices away. Your fierce defense of Michelle Wie and your use of the ever-present "she's a 16 year-old girl" stamp you forever as a Wie Warrior.

Chris, guess you know Limbaugh dissed you on his radio show today, and took exception to your using him:

"It figures that I would end up doing an interview with somebody who runs a website called BadGolfer.com...

"...when you just take the first thing that I said, which was "she's a triumph of marketing," which she is, and it's not a put down!"

He went on: "I have nothing against Michelle Wie...She's great. She hits the ball 300 yards. If anything I'm jealous of her."

So listen to your hero when he said "What would there possibly be to gain ripping Michelle Wie?"

I'm a Republican, not a lib or a Wie warrior. I just think it's unwholesome and unmanly to publicly berate a 16-year old girl. You're perfectly entitled to post your opinions, but leveraging a national celebrity for this is kinda creepy, don't you think?

It is very creepy if one reallly thinks that a teen ager should know who Rush Limbaugh is. Mentioning him in the same breath as Walter Cronkite or Edward Morrow is creepier yet but more creepy is Chris Baldwin's brown nosing Rush while he bashes a teen ager.

Chris' rants have nothing to do with who's on Wie Warriors' side or not, it's basically about a grown man being pathetic and thinking that he represents some sort of high moral ground that makes no sense.

Being a straight "A" student at Punahou High School is no easy task when Michelle Wie spends most of her free time on the golf course, honing her skills. Marketing machine or not, SHE'S ONLY SIXTEEN!! Get it?, Chris?

She's been thrust into very adult situations which she seems to handle with a lot of class from the disqualification at her first pro tournament to the stupid question she was asked about Rush.

What teen ager girl wouldn't have fun with a sparkly thing like a new watch?

All the Wie Warriors can't seem to get away from that shop-worn, trite expression that Michelle is only 16 years old. She is also a PROFESSIONAL! She was not thrust into that situation, she VOLUNTARILY turned pro. If she is too immature to act in a professional manner, then she has to accept a certain amount of criticism and even ridicule along with her undeserved endorsement monies. It's the way it has always been. As an example right on this blog, Chris puts out an idea, I agree with him, and the imbecile with the long handle says we should die and rot in hell. He is a typical liberal idiot who doesn't believe in free speech for those with whom he disagrees.

Sandy, You're just too much. While some folks look forward to finding cures for fatal diseases, your fondest hope is for the "grace, dignity, and positive publicity Michelle Wie (the 16 year-old teeny bopper)will bring to our sport for years to come." Sandy, give me a break. Grace and dignity from a gangly female with long, dangling earrings? Right.

Well Alex, I can almost guarentee that you don't even have a nodding aquaitence with "grace, dignity and positive publicity ".

So far your venture into publicity gives you the appearance of redneck of the Rush Limbaugh variety. You fit right in with Chris Baldwin and his continued attacks on a teenager. Such manly men you are!

You're right, Michelle should have known who Rush Limbaugh is... the most pathetic blithering jackass in this or any other galaxy. That you idiots interviewed him in the first place reflects very poorly on you. As for his being the most influential radio host in history, what a joke. Howard Stern, Father Coughlin (Rush's ideological soul mate), Paul Harvey, Don Imus... they all blow Rush away (quite a feat given the air in that gasbag). Stop abusing the Oxycontin, gang...

She may not know who a certain talk-radio personality is, but she certainly knows who the secretary of state is. You'd be surprised at how many college graduates don't.
Michelle is a top student at her school. She speaks several languages. She has other interests and, while ambitious, doesn't seem frighteningly so. (When she hooked a shot into the water the other day, she, her father, and her coach laughed it off)

That young lady is sooooooo savvy and such a lady, she's got the adults fooled!!

Chris - Why don't you try inviting Michelle to play a round of golf with you...Bring lots of kleenex to use when the 16 year old female beats you....or maybe a spare lob wedge after you break yours....

This is better than watching a comedy show!

But we all know, Chris, you're doingthis for money $$$. You probably secretly LOVE Michelle and have her pictures all over your walls.

1. A couple of things are clear. No one, and I mean no one, can be as obtuse as Chris appears to be. His comments on Michelle are SO overboard that they are obviously ploys to generate traffic to this site.

2. And, I suspect Alex is actually Chris in disguise trying to "keep the fire going." His attack on Sandy outted him. I mean, that was really an obviously fake comment. No one can really take issue with her post, and by him doing so, "stoked the fire."

The best thing we all can do is to not support hate, or using hate for marketing this web site. It's simple, let's never visit this site again.

There's valid criticism of Michelle Wie, and then there's absurd ramblings like this that indicate that you have a vendetta against her and are looking for any reason to tear her down.

All high school juniors know who Rush Limbaugh is? Are you so darn sure about that? The media likes to run polls every now and then that indicate, hey, half of this country doesn't know who the Vice President or the Secretary of State is. I bet half of this country in fact couldn't spell the latter's first name.

And out of curiosity, why does anyone have to know who he is? Just the fact that you said that it's basic knowledge that everyone should know shows how you've lost perspective. Rush Limbaugh is a political pundit. He is a commentator. He is not an elected leader of this country, he is not someone that Americans voted for. If you're not one of his listeners, or if rather, your parents aren't one of his listeners, why is there any reason for you to know who he is? Rush Limbaugh is not being mentioned in a single junior high school US History textbook in this country. He is not an answer to a question on the AP US History exam (which most juniors take).

Reading this entry, it's sickening how much you despise Michelle Wie--who, despite the hype, despite some obsessed fans, is a nice girl who's playing a consistently high level of golf. (I really wonder why people who are complaining that she hasn't won aren't picking at Natalie Gulbis, who's had plenty of hype/marketing of her own and also hasn't gotten any wins.)

You may think you've managed to maintain a facade of objectivity, but it's not there, and your hatred is repulsive. You sound so self-righteous and indignant--it's like you think she's Kobe Bryant and should be in jail. Please, get some perspective.

But, whatever. You'll dismiss me as a Wie Warrior (I do not consider myself one) and then go on your merry way.

It is all quiet on the Chris Baldwin front as Michelle Wie who is not playing full time on the LPGA tour, is sitting second in a major behind Ochoa. They're both playing incredible golf.

And if she wins, then it finally happened, and if she doesn't, well, so what!? For three days of the tournament, she's sitting second and closed the gap by a stroke on the third day so we shall see how she is learning to close the deal.

I am not a Wie Warrior, whatever that really means. But her game has matured and she's playing much smarter. What more can you ask out of someone who is a part time professional player and a full time student.

Certainly we will hear from the old Bald Win again as he won't be able to help himself when it comes to his favourite topic: Michelle Wie.